Jan 07, 2015

Over the last few years it seems like there is more music being made, available, reissued and compiled than I can remember. I was drawn to the new rebranding of grime into a weightless fusion of synths and sonics. New age music came back with some stellar soundscapes. R&B continued to morph with indie rock and electronica and vice versa. Detroit’s influence in techno and house deepened. African music continued to be mined, unearthing some mind-blowing jams. And everyday there was something new and interesting to check out and investigate. So yes, as usual this time of year I’m overwhelmed by the amount of sounds that have tickled my fancy and excited my soul. However, do to recent events in the States, I choose to focus, though not exclusively, on the urban, minority, and specifically black men who continue to inspire, strive, create and survive. Yet the list is all inclusive. RIP: DJ Rashad, Frankie Knuckles, Mark Bell, Jimmy Ruffin, Paco de Lucia, Isaiah “Ikey” Owens, Bobby Womack, DJ E-Z Rock, Big Bank Hank, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, the Spaceape, and the ones we’ll never read about…cheers?

The Single Minded…2-hour-14 minute playlist of not-so-guilty, mostly vocal pleasures culled from various releases and finds I’ve also enjoyed in some part. The only section of my year end that’s in a particular order.